Table VI.
Parameters on inflammation and arterial blood gas analysis prior to and after three-month intervention.
| Prior to interventiona | After interventionb | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parameter | YQGB (n=74) | Pb (n=76) | t | P-value | YQGB (n=56) | Pb (n=62) | t | P-value |
| CD4+ cells in blood (%) | 38.12±12.41 | 38.90±14.03 | 0.357 | 0.721 | 3.83±17.80 | −1.97±17.63 | −1.775 | 0.079 |
| CD8+ cells in blood (%) | 48.88±15.95 | 47.63±14.55 | −0.502 | 0.617 | −12.41±20.85 | 2.07±17.40 | 4.070 | <0.001 |
| CD4/CD8 | 0.94±0.58 | 0.98±0.64 | 0.350 | 0.727 | 0.32±0.82 | −1.67±0.80 | −3.26 | 0.002 |
| IL-6 in serum (pg/ml) | 9.36±10.43 | 8.73±10.51 | −0.370 | 0.712 | −0.30±8.33 | 0.97±11.78 | 0.680 | 0.498 |
| IL-8 in serum (pg/ml) | 4.06±5.15 | 3.21±5.47 | −0.979 | 0.329 | −1.46±2.78 | 1.71±10.45 | 2.303 | 0.024 |
| TNF-α in serum (pg/ml) | 8.31±5.03 | 8.03±7.59 | −0.266 | 0.791 | −1.95±6.60 | 5.00±7.85 | 5.223 | <0.001 |
| Arterial blood gas analysis | ||||||||
| pH value | 7.42±0.04 | 7.42±0.04 | −0.394 | 0.694 | 0.004±0.06 | 0.002±0.05 | 0.133 | 0.895 |
| PaO2 (mmHg) | 76.05±18.34 | 75.77±19.19 | 0.092 | 0.927 | 3.48±22.73 | −2.89±24.16 | 1.295 | 0.199 |
| PaCO2 (mmHg) | 40.86±9.05 | 40.15±8.13 | 0.504 | 0.615 | −1.41±5.88 | 0.02±8.99 | −0.903 | 0.369 |
| SaO2 (%) | 93.34±8.05 | 94.15±3.61 | −0.785 | 0.434 | 0.54±5.74 | 0.40±4.77 | 0.852 | 0.397 |
All data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. aData were analyzed with two independent samples t-tests. bData were obtained by subtracting the value obtained prior to intervention from the value obtained after intervention, and were analyzed with t-tests to assess the difference in means. IL, interleukin; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; YQGB, Yiqigubiao pill; Pb, placebo; PaO2, oxygen tension; PaCO2, carbon dioxide tension; SaO2, oxyhemoglobin saturation.